30-30 powder and Bullets your thoughts

herelittledoggy

herelittledoggy

New member
I have a Winchester Lever action I inherited from my dad after he passed. I just bought some dies to start reloading 30-30. I like fast rounds. So I thought about using a Horandy 110 grain bullet. Does anyone have any good advice on powder and what to expect? I do not like loading hot I try to conservative. I love shooting this gun and so do my boys. Thanks for all your comments ahead of time.
 
748, 3031, and 4895 are 3 of the more "traditional" 30-30 powders.

I must say, I'm a bit behind the times when 30-30s are concerned. I haven't tried any newer powders, but have no real reason to.

The 30-30 and "fast" is kind of an oxymoron. You may gain around 400fps using the 110s, but you'll lose all the thumpability. The sectional density of a 110gr 30-30 bullet has got to be just god awful. It is probably not much more than 60% of that of a 170gr(I'm guessing).

I think you would be doing your 30-30 a disservice by loading 110s for deer and larger game. But for small game/coyotes/plinking/reduced recoil for boys they would be fine........
 
I few years ago I did a lot of experimenting with the .30-30. Anywhere from very light loads using pistol powders to standard hunting loads. The best powder I found was H4895. You can use Hodgdon's "60% rule" to go light all the way up to standard hunting loads. I never had any luck with the light 100-110gr bullets, don't bother, .30-30's usually do best with the 150-170gr bullet they were designed for. Being said, my most accurate load in a particular .30-30 Trapper (16" barrel) was using Sierra 125gr JHP's in front of a max charge of H4895. 1 1/4" 3 shot groups at 100 yards.
 
The 30-30 and "fast" is kind of an oxymoron. I agree 2MUCHGUN lol. Chris Brice, I like that combo I think I will try and find some Sierra 125 grain with the H4895 powder. What grains do you use? Do you know about what FPS your getting?
 
Originally Posted By: herelittledoggyThe 30-30 and "fast" is kind of an oxymoron. I agree 2MUCHGUN lol. Chris Brice, I like that combo I think I will try and find some Sierra 125 grain with the H4895 powder. What grains do you use? Do you know about what FPS your getting?

It's been years and while I have it written somewhere I don't know my exact load. IIRC it was max. outta Lee 2nd Addition. Start lower of coarse. As for FPS, again I don't know. I'm not one that worries about knowing my FPS and have never crono'd a round in my life. All I have to know is more powder = faster, less = slower. The old saying, "if you don't want to be disappointed don't crono you favorite load".
 
The biggest reason why I like loading my own is that I can try different things. I think I will mess around with it and see what happens.

I like reading your comments.

Thanks!!!!
 
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Try the .30 caliber Speer 130 gr. Hot-Cor flat point. It can be pushed from a carbine barrel to somewhere around 2,600 fps pretty easily and is very suddenly terminal on deer, coyotes, ect. I've found it to be a pretty accurate bullet and not hard to work with. Varget, RE-15, and TAC are worth a look for powders.
 
Chances are that the distances you will be shooting will be on the shorter side, so shoot what is accurate in yours.

150g Speer with IMR 3031 is super accurate in my winchester, good for deer on up.
 
For STUMP shooting at long distances (400+ Yards) try 110gr bullets and 30-34gr of Re7. Watch for pressure signs.
My rifle will shoot about 12 inches high at 400 yards with this load. That is with the rear sight as low as it will go.
Would I use it for game bigger than a yote? No. Sure would be fun on jack rabbits though. Just a fun round to shoot.

Tony
 
Originally Posted By: RTLOF18918B For STUMP shooting at long distances (400+ Yards) try 110gr bullets and 30-34gr of Re7. Watch for pressure signs.
My rifle will shoot about 12 inches high at 400 yards with this load. That is with the rear sight as low as it will go.
Would I use it for game bigger than a yote? No. Sure would be fun on jack rabbits though. Just a fun round to shoot.

Tony

What have you been smoking
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By rear sight as low as it will go I presume you are shooting Iron sights, Right? You are talking 30-30, Right??

On that assumption. I want a rifle like yours, My 300 Win. Mag with IRON sights will not shoot 12 inches high at 4oo YDS with the rear sight as low as it will go...That has to be one [beeep] of a long range killing tool.
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You are one funny fella.
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I really think what you meant to say is it shoots 12 inches LOW at 400 YDS. with the rear sight as HIGH as it will go.

Am I right.

DAB

 
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I guess you haven't seen or shot my rifle then, have you?
My rifle isn't one of the newer POS Winchesters nade in the last 25 years. Yes it is a 30/30. Mine was made in the late 30's or 40-41. Inherited from my grandfather. Yes, iron sights. Rear sight ramp is not a real fine adjustment. I was shooting rather warm loads pushing 110 grain bullets. So before you start calling BS on something you might want to consider that some things are possible. I never stated I killed anything with it. And also, up until about 3 years ago my eyesight was that good. You may reason to doubt it, but don't call total BS on it. I did have a witness to verify the shots.
 
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My Dad's Marlin really likes the Sierra 125 HP's. The smallest groups of any bullet I have tried. Still rely on the heavier standby bullets when hunting though.
Tuco
 
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